The Android mobile file system often seems confusing to users accustomed to the classic folder structure on a PC. Standard file managers offer basic functionality, but for advanced directory management, working with archives and connecting to servers, a more powerful tool is required. Total Commander is the legendary two-panel file manager that has been successfully ported to the Android platform, maintaining its philosophy of efficiency and speed.
By installing this application, you get full control over your internal memory, SD card and even network resources. Unlike standard solutions, the logic of working with two panels at the same time is implemented here, which significantly speeds up moving and copying large amounts of data. TC supports a huge number of plugins, turning the smartphone into a real data management center, accessible anywhere.
Working with file manager this level requires an understanding of the basic principles of navigation, but the time spent on mastering the interface pays off many times over. You can quickly find hidden files, edit system configurations, and securely transfer information using secure protocols. Let's look at how to turn your smartphone into a powerful tool for working with data.
Interface and basic navigation
After launching the application, you will see a classic two-panel interface, familiar to many from the desktop version. Each panel displays the contents of a separate directory, allowing you to instantly move files from one folder to another by simply dragging and dropping or pressing function buttons. The upper part of the screen contains a status bar and buttons for quick access to the root directory, parent folder and navigation history.
For convenient navigation, at the bottom of the screen there is a panel with function keys, simulating the F1-F10 keyboard. You can customize these buttons to suit your needs in the menu Settings → Toolbar. For example, assign file preview to the F3 button, and quick copy to the F5 button. This speeds up the work, eliminating the need to constantly fall into context menus.
One of the key features is support bookmarks. You can save frequently used directories, such as your downloads folder or system log directory, for instant access. Just go to the desired folder and click on the star icon in the top bar. In the future, switching between saved paths will take a fraction of a second, which is critical when working with deep directory structures.
- 📂 Two-panel mode allows you to see the source and_destination simultaneously.
- ⚡ Hot keys speed up routine operations copying.
- ⭐ Bookmarks save time when working with deep folders.
The main effectiveness of Total Commander is achieved by minimizing unnecessary transitions between folders thanks to the two-panel mode.
Working with archives and compressed data
One of the most A popular feature of mobile TC is built-in archive support. The application works with ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR, GZ, BZ2 and CAB formats as with regular folders. You don't need to install third-party unpackers: just click on the archive and it will open in the second panel. You can view the contents, extract individual files, or add new data directly inside the compressed container.
To create a new archive, select the required files in one panel, click the button File → Pack files or use a hotkey. In the window that opens, you can select a compression algorithm, compression level, and set a password to protect your data. This is especially useful when transferring sensitive information or backing up important documents before resetting the device.
⚠️ Attention: When working with very large archives (more than 2-4 GB) on older smartphones, the unpacking process can take a significant amount of time and cause the device to heat up due to the high load on the processor when decoding data.
The function search inside archives allows you to find specific files without unpacking the entire container completely. This saves storage space and user time. However, it is worth considering that searching through encrypted archives without entering a password is impossible, and the system will display an error accessing the contents.
Support for plugins for archives
If the built-in formats are not enough, you can install WCX plugins that add support for exotic archiving formats, used in specific professional software.
Network connections and cloud storage
Total Commander on Android turns your device into a universal client for accessing remote resources. Through the menu Network → New connection you can add FTP, FTPS, SFTP or SMB servers. This allows you to manage files on your home NAS, work server or hosting directly from your phone, using reliable encryption protocols for data transfer.
To connect to cloud storage, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive or Yandex.Disk, you need to install the appropriate plugins from the list of supported extensions. After authorization, the cloud appears as a regular disk in the list of connections. You can copy files from your phone's internal memory to the cloud and back using the familiar two-pane interface without having to open a browser or a separate cloud application.
| Protocol | Default port | Encryption | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| FTP | 21 | None (plain text) | High |
| FTPS | 990 | SSL/TLS | High |
| SFTP | 22 | SSH | Medium/High |
| SMB | 445 | Depends on the version | Depends on the network |
When setting up SFTP connections, it is important to correctly specify the path to the private key if you are using authentication using keys instead of passwords. The key file must be located in a readable folder on the device. An error in the access rights to the key file will make it impossible to establish a connection with the server.
Installing and configuring plugins
The true power Total Commander is revealed through the plugin system. The application supports the WCX (archivers), WDX (informers), WLX (listings), WFX (file systems) and LSP (extension lists) standards. Installing plugins on Android is done by downloading APK files of extensions and then installing them as regular applications, after which they are automatically detected by the main file.
Among the most useful extensions are plugins for working with databases, viewing specific image formats, accessing the root file system (Root) and synchronizing with clouds. To activate the plugin, go to Settings → Configuration → Plugins and make sure that it is displayed in the list and has the status "Active".
- 🔌 WCX Plugins add support for new archive formats.
- 📄 WDX Plugins allow you to see additional file properties in columns.
- 🌐 WFX plugins provide access to new types of file systems.
Some plugins require specific Android permissions, such as storage access or background operation. If the extension does not work after installation, check the permission settings in the Android system menu for the specific plugin application. Lack of access rights is the most common cause of failures in advanced functionality.
⚠️ Attention: Download plugins only from trusted sources or the official developer forum, as a malicious extension can gain access to all your files on the device.
☑️ Checking the functionality of the plugin
Advanced functions and batch operations
To automate routine tasks in Total Commander is available function file search with support for regular expressions. You can search files not only by name, but also by content, modification date, size and attributes. Found files can be immediately selected and a bulk operation can be performed on them: renaming, moving, deleting or changing access rights.
Tool Selected files → Rename multiple files allows you to use masks for batch renaming. This is indispensable when processing photos from your camera or organizing downloaded documents. You can add prefixes, suffixes, numbering or replace parts of the file name in the entire selected group with one click.
Example of a rename mask:Original name: IMG_2023.jpg
Mask: [N]_[Y]-[M]-[D]
Result: IMG_2023_2023-10-25.jpg
Function also available Directory synchronization, which compares the contents of two folders and offers to copy new or changed files from one to the other. This is an ideal tool for backing up important data to an SD card or external drive before upgrading the system.
Use the Compare Directories by Contents feature to find duplicate files, even if they have different names but the same set of bytes.
Customize appearance and gestures
The application interface is completely customizable to the user's needs. You can change the color scheme, font size, icon set, and toolbar layout. For users with large screens or tablets, it is possible to configure the number of displayed columns with information about files, which makes navigation more informative.
Support gestures allows you to control the file manager with one hand. Swiping left and right can perform "Back" and "Forward" actions through history, and long presses can bring up a context menu. You can configure gesture actions in the section Settings → Control, linking complex operations to simple finger movements on the screen.
If you are using a device with root access, TC can work in full system access mode. In this case, it is recommended to enable the display of hidden files and system directories in order to be able to edit application configuration files or clear the system cache manually. However, be extremely careful when deleting files from system partitions.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and available settings may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the manufacturer of the device shell (MIUI, OneUI, etc.), since system restrictions affect access to some functions.
Correctly setting gestures and appearance reduces eye fatigue and speeds up working with files on the touch screen.
Can I use Total Commander without root access?
Yes, the application is fully functional in normal user mode. root access is required only to access protected Android system directories, which are hidden by default for security reasons.
How to open files in third-party applications from TC?
Select the file and press the "Open" button (or F3/F4 depending on the settings). The system will prompt you to select an application for processing this type of file from the list of installed apps.
Does the application support a dark theme?
Yes, in the design settings you can select a dark color scheme, which automatically adapts to the Android system settings or is turned on forcibly to save battery power on AMOLED screens.
Where the settings are stored apps?
Configuration files are usually located in the folder /Android/data/com.ghisler.android.TotalCommander/files or in the root folder of the application, depending on the Android version and storage type.
Is it possible to transfer settings to another phone?
Yes, copy the configuration files (wcx_ftp.ini, totalcmd.ini and others) from the old device to the new one in the appropriate directory, and all your settings, bookmarks and connections will be restored.